Thursday, October 05, 2006

Georgia to Block Russia’s WTO Accession Over Economic Blockad

MosNews: Georgia will block Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization as long as Moscow’s economic sanctions against the country remain in place, Georgia’s Central Bank chief told Reuters on Wednesday, Oct. 4.Georgian National Bank President Roman Gotsiridze said the national currency — the lari — and inflation would be unaffected by Russia’s decision to cut transport and postal links over a spying row. “Georgia will never support Russia’s accession to the WTO as long as sanctions remain,” he said in an interview in his central Tbilisi office.

“These sanctions are the behavior of an uncivilized country and it is hardly imaginable that a country which blockades its neighbor is a member of the Group of Eight.”

As MosNews has reported over the last few days, Russia threw up a blockade against Georgia on Monday, Oct. 2, after Tbilisi’s release of four arrested Russian soldiers failed to defuse the worst crisis in years between the ex-Soviet neighbors. Rail, air and postal links with Georgia were cut in the early hours of Tuesday.